RPS benchmarking metrics for acute hospitals – Definitions to enable meaningful benchmarking of pharmacy services, and the safe and effective use of medicines.
There is currently inconsistency in the way that acute hospitals measure performance when benchmarking. RPS through its Hospital Expert Advisory Group (HEAG) has developed a consensus on definitions for benchmarking metrics relevant to the delivery of pharmacy services and medicines use in acute hospitals.
The aim is to provide a consistent basis for the collection of data which will allow acute hospitals to benchmark performance against each other most effectively. Benchmarking helps identify unwarranted variation and therefore presents opportunity to improve performance within organisations. Definitions look to use existing data sources where possible rather than adding to the burden of data collection. It is acknowledged that this may occasionally lead to compromise in detail/accuracy.
Defining the target range for the metrics is out of the scope of this work as is accounting for all local variations in service provision (warranted variation); the definitions are national and need to be broadly fit for purpose.
The RPS Hospital Expert Advisory Group will continue identifying and develop further definitions to support the profession in consistent benchmarking. Comments or suggestions for additional definitions can be directed to Catherine Picton ([email protected]).
View RPS benchmarking metrics for acute hospitals – definitions to enable meaningful benchmarking of pharmacy services, and the safe and effective use of medicines here.